The word “baptism” with its various inflections occurs 126 times in the New Testament. Hence, one has to say a good deal about baptism or neglect a large portion of the Bible. So far as we know, all denominations except the Christian Scientists and the Quakers practice some rite that they call baptism.
Most people, therefore, have submitted to some ordinance that was called baptism. When these people learn about the New Testament church, they often want to come into the church on their denominational baptism. But if something is wrong with denominational baptism, and we think there is, these people plainly need to be told about it. Therefore, we shall attempt to plainly tell each of you (rather you be Catholic, Mormon, Baptist, Lutheran, Community, etc.) seven things wrong with denominational baptism.
It has the wrong authority (Matthew 28:18 (NIV) Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Colossians 3:17 (NIV) And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Denominational councils and creeds authorize denominational baptism. Jesus never authorized it, nor did he ever command anyone to be baptized into any denomination.
It usually has the wrong subject. Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV) Mt 19 (NIV) Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Mark 16:15-16 (NIV) Mk 15 (NIV) He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Acts 2:38 (NIV) Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
The Bible teaches that the taught penitent believer who confesses his faith is the only proper subject of scriptural baptism. But denominations often sprinkle infants who cannot meet the above requirements. Denominations also baptize people who think they are already saved rather than persons who desire to be saved (1 Pet. 3:21).
It has the wrong confession. Persons in the New Testament confessed their faith in Christ as the only confessional requisite for baptism. But lost souls desiring to undergo denominational baptism will be asked to confess agreement with the sectarian creed. One denomination that we know requires a confession consisting of twenty propositions. More common is the unscriptural confession wherein one states that he “believes that God for Christ’s sake has pardoned his sins.” Many who now question their denominational baptism have not the faintest remembrance of what they confessed.
It usually has the wrong action. Romans 6:3-4 (NIV) Ro 3 (NIV) Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
Colossians 2:12 (NIV) having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.
Scriptural baptism entails “much water” (John 3:23 ), and a coming unto, a “going down into,” and a “coming up out of the water.” In scriptural baptism, one is immersed or “buried” (Rom. 6:3-4) in the water. Neither sprinkling nor pouring meets these scriptural requirements.
It has the wrong purpose. Acts 2:38 (NIV) Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Mark 16:16 (NIV) Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Acts 22:16 (NIV) And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’
1 Peter 3:21 (NIV) and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also–not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
These passages teach baptism to be “for the remission of sins,” to be “saved,” to have one’s sins “washed away.”
Denominations usually assert they are baptizing one into that particular denomination rather than into Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:26-27 (NIV) Gal 26 (NIV) You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
Romans 6:3-4 (NIV) Ro 3 (NIV) Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
So even though one has been immersed, if he was not immersed for the scriptural purpose, that person’s baptism was wrong.
Most sectarians teach that one is baptized to SHOW that he HAS BEEN saved rather than in order to be saved. Were you so baptized? Did you think or confess that you were saved before you were baptized? If so, your baptism was wrong. Immersion in water is “for the remission of sins” and into the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13).
It has the wrong order. Hebrews 11:6 (NIV) And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Romans 10:17 (NIV) Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
Mark 16:16 (NIV) Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Acts 2:38 (NIV) Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
These verses establish the sequence of events in conversion to be hearing, faith, repentance, confession, immersion, forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Sectarians confuse this order. They state the sequence like this: Gift of the Holy Spirit, repentance, faith, salvation, and then baptism.
It has the wrong allegiance. Sectarian baptism binds one to wear a human name, obey and endorse a human creed, belong to a human organization, and to support a human program; while scriptural baptism binds one to wear a divine name, obey a divine message, belong to a divine body, and to engage in a divinely authorized program. Denominational baptism attracts people to a denominational body rather than to Christ and His Kingdom.
Matthew 16:18-19 (NIV) Mt 18 (NIV) And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
(1) One cannot be taught wrong and baptized right (Rom. 10:17; 6:17).
(2) One cannot be baptized wrong and worship right (Rom. 6:3-4; Acts 2:42).
(3) One cannot worship wrong and live right (John 4:23-24).
(4) One cannot live wrong and die right (Matt. 25:31-41).
(5) Therefore, one cannot be baptized wrong and die right.
Have you submitted to scriptural baptism? Do not make the error of interpreting what you did years ago in the light of what you now know the Bible to teach.
Proud to be TJ's man 